i meet you in ashes
as we walk away from what had been
i learn about you
we make and destroy cities of hills by water
woven with hate
you are my second skin
we consume each other
please
scratch bleed wash chew and spit me
into something i cant see
cinders burning straw wind
clay to park liberty saratoga lexington
a factory on fire spawned men from windows
framehouses and brickhouses exploded in lightning and thunder
shouts and cries chorused into wailing prophesy
dragons pulled wagons through smoke and cinder
firefighters labored on the edge of sacrifice
crows and vultures circled updrafts high above
soaked blankets and men eclipsed the basilica.
the kindling fire in the shavings box next to the engine room
sparked from some strange density
beneath the street
rivals and factions
mechanical union friendship deptford liberty
federal independent vigilant new market
columbian first baltimore united fells point franklin
washington patapsco howard watchman lafayette
monumental pioneer western mount vernon
united.
woodframes and roaring flames
pellmell and terror
lighted windows and leather buckets and lanemen
white hatted officers axe hook and ladder men
sooty sweeps climbing to the sky.
street fights of children following engines home
hooting for their companies with fists sticks stones and missiles
brawling and letting blood.
fires fought and conquered with zeal and daring
resolve that however valuable as a fireman a member may be
if he is constitutionally turbulent and quarrelsome
it were better to dispense with his services
